Gasholders, russet among fields. Milldams, marlpools that layunstirring. Eel-swarms. Coagulations of frogs: once, with branches andhalf-bricks, he battered a ditchful; then sidled away from the stillnessand silence.

Ceolred was his friend and remained so, even after the day of the lostfighter: a biplane, already obsolete and irreplaceable, two inches ofheavy snub silver. Ceolred let it spin through a hole in theclassroom-floorboards, softly, into the rat-droppings and coins.

After school he lured Ceolred, who was sniggering with fright, down tothe old quarries, and flayed him. Then, leaving Ceolred, he journeyedfor hours, calm and alone, in his private derelict sandlorry namedAlbion.